Brittany & Jacob: portraits part 1

I enjoy a fun wedding party... And this group was definitely a fun one!

GIANT wedding party.

But fun!

And what a back drop!

Got the girls to jump!

Of course the guys wanted to jump too...

Up next...

The beautiful images of Brittany and Jacob!
Keep your eye out!

Brittany & Jacob: details and ceremony

Meet Jacob and Brittany!

Aren't they so sweet?

This photo was taken right after their "first look"...

They were both a lot of fun to work with and photograph.

The wedding was full of DIY projects including origami heart table cards, a photo album guest book,  their table numbers and table chart (written on a window pane! Love!), and they wrote their own vows in small books... So sweet.

LOVE this last one!

There were so many more to share of this fun couple's wedding day...

So stay tuned!

Brittany & Jacob Post 1 : I'm a sucker for ring shots!

I had the great joy of being a part of the wedding day of Brittany and Jacob. This post (and future posts for this wedding day) are WAY overdue... as this wedding was at the end of September! 

But I really want to share their day with you all!

I'm starting it off slow with photos of Brittany and Jacob's wedding day with some shots of... their rings!
ok ok, overkill possibly... but I am a sucker for ring shots and their rings were not only beautiful, but there were so many possibilities for their ring photos. 

So, without any more introduction... some ring photos from Brittany and Jacob's wedding!
Stay tuned for future posts on this beautiful day, as well as more about this sweet couple!

LOVE all of the details that Brittany & Jacob worked into their day as well as their use of color!

The things you can find at Ross: Hobby Lobby Edition!

During a recent visit to Montana, I stopped by an *AMAZING* store called Hobby Lobby. It is a cross between Michael's, Joanne's, and... Ross.
It's nicknacks and figurine section is truly a sight to see. I really wish I had take more time to take photos of some of the truly awesome things you can buy there.
But I do have just a few...

I mean really... who DOESN'T a "BUBBA" decorative sign made out of fake antlers?

And to go with Bubba's sign, how about some shotgun shell lights to... brighten the room up a bit?

Oh but we can't forget about the rooster collectors of the world....

Rest assured... Hobby Lobby has LOTS to choose from...

This guy sure is regal!

"Who you lookin' at?"

So there you go...

Hobby Lobby is clearly not just a place for craft supplies.

And the next time I find myself nearby one of these awesome stores, 

I will be sure to do a better job of taking photos of its amazing offerings.

Playing Catchup on the Blog...

SO much to blog about!
So I am making a plan of future blog postings for myself!
And some will be going back to the fall, but that's ok!

Over the next couple of weeks, please keep an eye out for:

The stuff you can find at Ross: HOBBY LOBBY edition!

The stuff you can find at Ross: Regular edition.

WEDDINGS!

NEW YORK CITY!

Photos from Christmas (Really, Sarah? Oh yes- really) (A couple DIY gifts, wrapping, cards)

YOSEMITE!

Cats Helping with Homework.

Cake Pops!

Ok, that is a good enough list to start out with!
I hope you come back and check them out.

A new photo documentary: Cats Helping With Homework!

I am ending my hiatus from slo inspired with a post that involves my newfound life as a full time graduate student and my cats.

Lately, my to-do lists are consumed with homework, papers, research, and reading.
And lucky (and sometimes unlucky because they are very distracting) I have my two loving kitties to keep me company.

Brooklyn loves to place himself right in the middle of the action... In front of my computer, on top of important papers, etc. It's appropriate that Brooky is my main study buddy, since one of my nicknames for him is Buddy!

Since I love taking photos of my cats, it's only natural that this occurred.

So I give you the first installment of:
Cats Helping With Homework!

"Why don't you take a break from working on the laptop and pet me instead?"

"Oh, am I blocking the computer screen?"

"Oh, did you need these books and papers?"

Toy Stories

Wow has it really been nearly a whole month since my last post??? That's just ridiculous.
But there's reason for it, including a bachelor/bachelorette party, my brother's wedding, a new beau, and just fun stuff in-between. I WILL blog some of it... when I have time to sit in front of my computer to edit photos!

Anyways.

Clever people inspire me.

Today I bring you the art of Aled Lewis.

Jason, if you're reading this, I thought of you when I saw this work. :)

(I first saw this on DesignMom)

Learn more about the artist, and buy prints HERE!

jump jump!

Kris Kross gonna make you JUMP, JUMP!

Except that in this case, it's Sarah's gonna make you jump.

FUN impromptu photo shoots: TOTALLY INSPIRING to me!

My bestie Mike starting things off with a little bit of a leap frog kinda jump...

 I actually make my photography clients jump a lot for various shoots....

And this is the first time that I ever did one myself.

It was fun. :)

A series of Mike.

Look at that air!!!

This one is sort of awkward...

And that thing in my back pocket is my lens cap.... for the record.

Weee!!!!

More of Mike...

And me...

And the last one...

Do you ever take jump shots?

It's really fun.
I highly recommend doing it with some friends.

Remember, the key is:
BEND YOUR KNEES!
It makes you LOOK like you are jumping hire than you are.

The Mid State Fair : A photo heavy post

I grew up going to the Mid State Fair in Paso Robles.

And I was fortunate to get to go again this year, for the first time in more than 10 years, 

with some great people!

Rides, corn dogs, DBAs, friends, family, Mutton Bustin', and so much other fun!!!

The main characters in this blog:

On the left, Mike Del Rey- one of my favorite people in the world, who I hadn't seen in 3 years, 

and who, by his last few living locations, is a city boy... 

Tyson, my brother and Angela, my future sister-in-law joined in on the fun.

I really couldn't imagine going with a different group of people!

Pictured here are us with one of many beers that were consumed on this day at the fair!

I took my canon point & shoot and had my iPhone camera on hand to document the day...
*Just for the record- these photos are not my finest work. :)
And they were not taken in any sort of professional state...

Starting with this:

The characters and amazing attire are aplenty at the Mid State Fair!!

This duo was just the darndest cutest country couple!

              

This poor guy fell asleep at his booth....

So naturally Angela and Mike took their photo with him.

This banner does NOT make me want to eat their burger... poor moo cow!

Another amazing vendor:

These guys were nice enough to let Mike and Angela get their photos taken with them.

The people watching was really at its finest...

I really could have sat in one place for people watching the whole day.

I'm sorry... I just don't get this:

Some more fair fashion:

CARNIVAL RIDE TICKETS!!!!

Mike and I took a ride on this one: 

As seen here:

Of course what visit to the fair isn't complete with fried food?!!

 I don't remember the booths being so... bright and ridiculous as a kid.

These really were crazy!

And the HUGE amount of strange (and normal) fried food...

Seriously, America? 

 We all decided to get a fair favorite: the corn dog!

Freshly dipped at Hot Dog on a Stick (no heat lamps for us thanks!).

Angela trying to get up the ladder...

She really thought she would be able to do it! (she failed at no cost to her)

Of course there were cheesy plush toys galore!

More carnival rides...

(Tyson and Angela are faking it... the ride was still)

One of my favorite photo ops... The sparkly word booth!

(I joke that these will be my profile pictures for future dating site endeavors... )

Another highlight for my fair experience:
Mutton Bustin'!

Wool Riders Only put on a pretty darn good show!

Picture it:
3-6 year olds hanging onto a sheep for dear life!

Pretty amazing!!!

Feeding the Mutton Bustin' sheep!

Horsey!

Weee!!! (Hey who's that peeking in the background?!!)

Night time at the carnival... Taken with the handy iPhone!

I'd say the most inspiring thing about the Mid State Fair is that there are just a lot of different types of people and ages hanging out together... Each coming for different reasons, whether it's for a concert, animals, free show, carnival rides, people watching....

There's something for nearly everyone!

Have you gone to any big fairs recently?